40% Silver

I noticed that 40% bags of junk silver have made the top 40 on APMEX. I have been interested in these products for awhile, but it has not worked out.

I am interested on what others on this site think. Do you think 40% silver should be on my priority list. So far, I have been detracted due to Mercury and Rossevelt dimes mostly. I can get the 90% dimes at spot much of the time, so I have been passing up on the JFK half dollars.

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I'm not seeing the advantage of 40% silver bags over 90% silver bags. It costs more to ship and store the same amount of of silver if you go the 40% route. I certainly snatch up 40% silver halves from banks whenever I can but I would not buy them.

I get them cheap enough on ebay, but I only buy one at a time. I'm not made out of money, so if I only have a few bucks to play with, I'll snatch them up. Before I know it, I have a roll or two to play with.

I wouldn't buy them. Aside from the storage problems, I don't think they're easy to sell. 90% always has a market, sometimes a good market. This from someone who hoards copper pennies . But I don't pay money for the pennies.

In my experience the 40% coinage is a tad bit tougher to sell and carries a smaller premium relative to its bullion content when compared to 90% coinage. If you can get MS 40% Ikes that is one thing, but to buy circulated 40% JFKs then I would stay away.

40% silver was a great purchase when silver prices were much lower. The coins sold at modest premiums to face value, so it was like purchasing silver with a put option attached because the coins would never drop below face value. Now, the premium is high enough so that the face value doesn't matter anymore and doesn't really offer any protection. They are okay to hold, but I wouldn't make it your primary silver investment.

Go for the 90% unless your paying a very small premium. 40% does not move that well.

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The shop man said he would give me a good deal under spot silver for the 40%. I did not have cash on hand, so I did not pursue it strongly. The dealer knows how I like silver coins - especially junk.

I had a dream about that last coin shop visit recently. In the dream, his wife was explaining to me what a good deal on those coins I had passed up.

I have been thinking about it more since. Some of the online dealers charge 2.00 under spot. That would not be enough to distract me from more Mercury dimes.

I will keep you all posted to the final price if and when I follow up on this invitation to purchase the 40%. A lot will depend on cash flow. It is tax time in the US, not a good time for buying coins for me.

Thank you all for your comments. It is appreciated. The part about "moving" the coins to sell was something I had not considered too seriously. I intentional buy stuff I can move (not necessarily coins), since I know how attached I can get to them.

I think from an investor's standpoint, 90% would be my preferance over 40%. But if you can get 40% under spot, why not? APMEX may be trying to move out a bunch of silver clads by creating an artificial demand. Unless they are going for way under spot, I don't see why they would ever be a hot ticket.

I think from an investor's standpoint, 90% would be my preferance over 40%. But if you can get 40% under spot, why not? APMEX may be trying to move out a bunch of silver clads by creating an artificial demand. Unless they are going for way under spot, I don't see why they would ever be a hot ticket.

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My source is a local coin shop. I have not had the funds to approach him about the purchase yet. Thanks for all the input all.

I have had no problem selling 40% halves. I've sold them on Ebay and have gotten slightly above melt and a little below melt. Silver is silver, IMHO. If you can pick up any silver below melt, whether it is 40% or 90%, you've done well.

The proof quarters that were included with the proof sets the last few years, have they been 90% silver or 40%? Was the 1964 Kennedy the first 40% coin or was that a 90% coin?

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The only non-half dollars that were ever 40% silver were the bicentenial 3-piece set coins. Proof and uncirculated dimes and quarters were produced along with the half dollars in 1975 and 1976, both with the 1776-1976 date on them exclusively for collectors in the 40% silver clad composition.

The only way I would invest in 40% silver is if I got them from a bank at face value.

Also, you have a better chance finding 40% and even 90% silver at small banks and credit unions that place orders for rolls directly from the FRB's. Corporate giants like BoA usually have their own regional storage facilities, and they recyle coins through their own branches, first, before resorting to placing orders with the FRB's.